Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

There will be no primaries in the Orange County Sheriff’s election this year as only one partisan candidate, Darryl Sheppard, qualified for the ballot while Jose “Joe” Lopez switched to run as an independent. Another Democrat also failed to qualify. Consequently, Orlando Police Chief John Mina, already running as an independent candidate, will face Lopez […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2018

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said Thursday that his campaign’s internal polling suggests he could win the Orange County mayor’s office in the August preliminary election, a prospect that would indicate an impressive base in a contest with three major candidates. Demings made the statement as he was preparing to file his notice of resignation […]

Scott PowersApril 30, 2018

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, the former Orlando Magic superstar center who lives in the Windermere area, has endorsed Orlando Police Chief John Mina in the race for Orange County sheriff. O’Neal, an analyst on “NBA on TNT,” called Mina the “person best qualified to be our next sheriff,” in a video released Monday […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2018

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings has received the endorsements of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, and former Orange County Chair Linda Chapin in his campaign to become the next mayor of Orange County. Demings’ campaign confirmed Wednesday that Dyer, mayor of Orlando for the past 15 years; Hood, Orlando Mayor for […]

Scott PowersMarch 26, 2018

Orange County Sheriff candidate Jose “Joe” Lopez has picked up the endorsement of the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association. “We firmly believe Joe Lopez is a candidate with integrity and vision who will best lead our members and our citizens/visitors toward a safer community,” Jerry Hagan, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc., stated […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2018

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings has endorsed Orlando Police Chief John Mina in the election to be his successor. Citing Mina’s accomplishments as chief of the Orlando Police Department and the trust he has built in the community, Demings, who is in his third term as sheriff, said he considers Mina is the best choice […]

Scott PowersMarch 5, 2018

Tom Stroup, a retired police captain, is withdrawing from the Orange County Sheriff’s race. He made the announcement on Facebook over the weekend. Stroup was the only Republican in the race. His withdrawal will leave Orlando Police Chief John Mina and retired Florida Highway Patrol Major Jose “Joe” Lopez as the only current candidates. Both […]

Scott PowersFebruary 23, 2018

In the first event putting Orange County’s three top candidates for mayor on the same program, Jerry Demings, Rob Panepinto, and Pete Clarke presented themselves to the Central Florida Urban League Friday respectively as the known steady hand, the visionary, and the veteran of community building. “What you get from Jerry Demings is scandal-free leadership, a […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2018

Orlando Police Chief John Mina has officially entered the race to run for sheriff, seeking to succeed his longtime partner in Orlando law enforcement Sheriff Jerry Demings, who is running for county mayor. Long expected to be a candidate, Mina filed his candidacy paperwork Wednesday morning with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office. He […]

Scott PowersJanuary 10, 2018

Retired 32-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Thomas Stroup has filed to run for Orange County Sheriff, the first major candidate into the contest to succeed Jerry Demings, who has held the job for nine years and is running for mayor this year. Stroup, 60, a Windermere Republican, retired three years ago as […]

Tag: Orange County Sheriff
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Orange County Sheriff election set for November with three candidates

Jerry Demings says polls show he could win in August

Shaq endorses John Mina in Orange County Sheriff race

Jerry Demings gets Buddy Dyer’s endorsement in Orange County mayor’s race

Joe Lopez picks up PBA endorsement in sheriff’s race

Jerry Demings endorses John Mina for Orange County Sheriff

Tom Stroup withdrawing from Orange County Sheriff’s race

Jerry Demings, Rob Panepinto, Pete Clarke introduce Orange County mayor’s race at Urban League

Orlando Police Chief John Mina files to run for Orange County sheriff

Tom Stroup files to run for Orange County sheriff